Concrete handling arrangement

ABSTRACT

A concrete handling arrangement which includes a receiving and mixing means that provides a thorough pre-mixing of the concrete ingredients just prior to ejection of same to a point of use via a fluid operated displacement pump in which a single valve controls entry and exit of the concrete into and out of such pump with the operation of said valve being cyclically or manually controlled as desired.

United States Patent [191 Kug le et a1.

[ Apr. 30, 1974 CONCRETE HANDLING ARRANGEIVIENT [75] Inventors: John L. Kugle, Lancaster; Robert C.

F utty, Willow, both of Pa.

[73] Assignee: IRL Daffin Associates, Incorporated,

Lancaster, Pa.

[22] Filed: Oct. 28, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 193,506

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 837,553, June 30,

1969, abandoned.

[52] US. Cl 259/162, 259/178 [51] Int. Cl. B28c 7/00 [58] Field of Search 259/178 R, 178 A, 161,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Schumann 417/234 3,279,382 10/1966 Bennett 417/234 3,279,383 10/1966 Smith 417/234 3,310,293 3/1967 Zimmerman 259/148 3,588,294 6/1971 Schlecht 417/900 Primary ExaminerRobert W. Jenkins Att0rney, Agent, or Firml-lolman & Stern [5 7] ABSTRACT A concrete handling arrangement which includes a receiving and mixing means that provides a thorough pre-mixing of the concrete ingredients just prior to ejection of same to a point of use via a fluid operated displacement pump in which a single valve controls entry and exit of the concrete into and out of such pump with the operation of said valve being cyclically or manually controlled as desired.

13 Claims, 24 Drawing Figures mimimrnao m4 3.807706 saw 01 HF 13 FIG. I

INVENTORS JOHN L KUGLE ROBERT c FUTTY ATTORNEYS PATENTED APR 3 0 I sum 02 or 13 INVENTORS ATTORNEYS ATENTEMH-1 e n 3 807,706 sum 03 OF 13- I FIG.

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' ATTORNEYS PATENTEDAPR30 19M 7 $801,706

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sum 05 0F 13 INVENTORS ATTORNEYS om mm B PATENTED APR 30 I974 SNEEI 08 0F 13 INVENTORS ATTORNEYS PATENTEDAPR 30 m4 SHEET 07 0F 13 INVENTORS ATTORNEYS saw user 13' FIG. ID

INVENTORS 'BYM ,Jwl, 51%

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ATTORNEYS INVENTORS ATTORNEYS sum 10 0F 13 PATENTEI] APR 30 M4 M N Iv v mom m nm 8T T a \w it \b 8 a mm? if I! mw VQ mww\ wwl 4| 4 mm w L t drl m ow; AI m f w? w CONCRETE HANDLING ARRANGEMENT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This application is a continuation-in-part of our copending US. Pat. application Ser. No. 837,553, filed June 30, 1969 and entitled "CONCRETE HANDLING ARRANGEMENT,"now abandoned.

The present invention relates broadly to the art of conveying materials. More particularly this invention relates to the conveying of a semi-fluid material such as concrete or the like. Still more particularly this invention relates to a combination including a receiving, mixing and moving means for semi-fluid material and a force feed or pump operably interrelated therewith which handles concrete from a delivery source such as a self-contained, pre-mix truck and delivers the same to a remote point of utilization, such as a building construction form. I

Concrete conveyors or pumps are known in the art to handle pre-mixed concrete and deliver same through a conduit to a point of use. One such arrangement is exemplified in prior filed US. Application to H. M. Zimmerman, Ser. No. 708,680 filed Feb. 27, 1968 and entitled CONCRETE CONVEYOR, now US. Pat. No. 3,485,48 l and this application is directed to improvements thereof.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a concrete receiving, mixing and moving means that can be embodied in either a trailer unit or be selfpropelled and which will ensure delivery of concrete in properly mixed condition to a remote point of utilization.

A further object is to provide a concrete handling arrangement which embodies a receiving and mixing means that provides a thorough further pre-mixing of the ingredients just prior to ejection of the same to a point of use via a fluid operated displacement pump and which arrangement embodies a single valve controlling entry and exit of the concrete to and from such pump.

It is a more particular object of this invention to provide a trailer unit which can be associated with any concrete truck that in transit pre-mixes the ingredients, even those of the rotary type, and which unit embodies receiving, mixing means that provides a thorough premixing of the ingredients in a fashion to prevent buildup of particles of non-integrally mixed batches just prior to delivery of the concrete to a point of use.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a concrete receiving, mixing and displacement arrangement that is fluid operated, embodying a single valve controlling entry into and exit from a pump chamber with the operation of such valve either being cyclically or manually controlled as desired.

it is an additional object of this invention to provide a fluid operated concrete receiving, mixing and displacement arrangement that includes a mainor pump cylinder, a main or pump piston reciprocable therein, a discharge conduit, a single fluid operated gate valve controlling concrete flow from the outlet of a receiving, mixing zone into said main or pump cylinder and out through said discharge conduit responsive to reciprocation of said main piston and in accordance with the po sition of said gate valve, a double-acting power cylinder-piston unit axially aligned with said main cylinder, a valve controlled fluid pressure system including control valves for said power cylinder unit and said fluid operated gate valve and means mechanically controlling such control valves to permit the system to be operated automatically or manually.

It is a still further object to provide an arrangement consistent with the immediately aforegoing object in which the means mechanically controlling the control valves includes a first axially movable rod means carried by the pump piston and guided by means on the power cylinder, a second axially movable rod means operably related with one of the respective control valves and biased to hold same in a neutral condition, further means embodied with the said second rod means for effecting movement of the same in response to the movement of the first rod means to shift the associated control valve, further axially movable control rod means operably related with the other control valve means and movable in response to gate valve movement to shift the associated control valve to cause coordinated reciprocation of the pump piston, and movement of the gate valve to effect flow of concrete flow from the outlet of the receiving, mixing zone into the pump cylinder with the discharge conduit closed and subsequent ejection of concrete from the pump cylinder through conduit discharge conduit with the gate valve closing the outlet of the receiving, mixing zone.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a trailer unit including a wheeled frame, a concrete receiving, mixing hopper, a concrete pump including axially aligned pump and power cylinder-piston units, a pressure fluid tank, interrelated fluid conduits and control valves, a water containing tank, a longitudinally extending internal combustion engine power unit, and a discharge conduit means carrying a fluid-operated concrete flow control gate valve means in which said hopper, cylinder-piston units, tanks, power unit and discharge conduit means are so positioned with respect to each other and with respect to the longitudinal axis of the wheeled frame as to provide a vertically compact horizontally balancedstructure to permit easy towability and maximum stability in operation.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide a concrete handling arrangement which, in a preferred embodiment, includes a receiving, mixing trough having downwardly and inwardly sloping walls, a rotary shaft carried mixing-conveying structure therein, a resilient bottom section to cooperate with such structure to impart a so-called kneading action to the concrete in the trough, an outlet at one end of the trough, a bearing back-up plate at said end for the rotary shaft, a concrete pump alongside and partly below one side wall of the trough, a delivery conduit extending from said pump, a lateral opening therein, a partial wall structure extending from said opening to said outlet, and a swingable gate valve positioned within said conduit for movement about an axis at an angle to the axis of the pump.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a concrete handling arrangement on which a receiving, mixing trough having an outlet at one end thereof is disposed partlyabove and alongside a fluid operated delivery pump, a conduit section having an opening communicating with the pump chamber, and a lateral opening in communication with the trough outlet, a fluid operated swingable gate valve structure within said conduit section and swingable about an axis inclined to the pump axis and which gate valve structure includes bevelled surfaces operable to cleave through the concrete material and prevent jamming of the valve structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further and more specific objects will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the arrangement of the invention illustrating the position of the components relative to the center line of the wheeled trailer frame;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the arrangement of FIG. I as seen from the left;

FIG. 3 is a similar view as seen from the right;

FIG. 4 is a view partly in longitudinal sectional and partly in elevation illustrating the hopper and the mixing, conveying means therein;

FIG. 5 is an end elevational view of the arrangement of FIG. 4 as seen from the right;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view partly in elevation of the auger motor shown in FIGS. 4 and 5;

FIG. 7 is a view diagrammatically illustrating the hopper, concrete pump and concrete delivery section;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the arrangement of FIGS. 1 to 3 illustrating the concrete delivery section swung to open condition;

FIG. 9 is a similarview illustrating the concrete delivery section in closed condition;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary end elevational view, with parts removed, illustrating the positioning relationship of the gate valve operating lever;

FIG. 11 is a view of the arrangement of FIG. 10 as seen along line 11-11 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of the arrangement of FIG. 11;

FIGS. 13 and 14 are respective side and end elevational views of the gate valve per se;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary view illustrating the actuation of the control valve for the power cylinder for the gate valve;

FIG. 16 is a similar view illustrating the actuation of the control valve for the power cylinder for the concrete pump and for the operation of the hydraulic motor for the mixing, conveying auger;

FIG. 17 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the fluid circuitry;

FIG. 18 is a front elevational view of the hopper according to the modified embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 19 is a right side elevational view, partly in section, of this modified embodiment;

FIG. 20 is a front elevational view, partially in section, of .the modified gate valve of this embodiment, looking along lines 2020 of FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is an enlarged side elevational view of the control linkage associated with the gate valve of FIG. 20;

FIG. 21a is an enlarged side elevational view showing an altenative control linkage construction;

FIG. 22 is a left side elevational view corresponding to the opposite side of FIG. 19; and

FIG. 23 is a pictorial view, with parts removed, showing the manner in which the modified gate valve operates.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring first to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the concrete hanper H, a concrete piston-cylinder type displacement pump P, an axially aligned double-acting power cylinder PC, a tank WI for supplying water behind the pump piston so as to lubricate the piston chamber and keep the piston cool, and a valve controlled admission and delivery conduit section VC through which concrete passes from hopper H to pump P through conduit section VC to a point of utilization.

Further, the various fluid lines, control valves, valve controlling mechanisms and other controls are included and which will be discussed in more detail hereinafter.

In considering the general arrangement just described, it is to be pointed out that the positioning of the various major components on the wheeled frame is important. The frame F includes spaced side members M and a front or nose section N of generally triangular shape and carrying a trailer hitch. The apex of nose section N lies upon and defines the center line or longitudinal axis of frame F. As is clearly shown, in FIG. I the power unit E is mounted on the frame with its drive shaft disposed longitudinally and on the left side of the center line of the frame viewing from the front or nose section N looking toward the rear. Behind the power unit and on the same side of such center line is mounted tank T. The hopper H is mounted with at least i the majority of its weight on the right side of the center line. Alongside the hopper and partially below same is mounted the piston-cylinder type concrete displacement pump P and the axially aligned double-acting power cylinder piston unit PC. Mounted above this latter unit is the tank WT for the cooling and lubricating water. The delivery conduit section VC is mounted on the frame to swing about a vertical axis VA to expose the inlet-outlet end of the pump P and the outlet end of hopper H (see FIG. 8). This delivery conduit section also includes a pivotable outer section 272 beyond the concreteflow control valve which can be swung upwardly about a horizontal axis HS to rest the outer end of such outer section on the edge of the cover structure for the hopper during transit.

Therefore, with this particular arrangement of components, the weight distribution of the frame is such that the trailer is ideally balanced during transit, as well as being of great stability when handling concrete. Further, due to this positioning relationship, there is provided a compact and powerful concrete displacement unit that is economical to produce and maintain.

Referring now to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the hopper structure includes opposite rigid rear and front end walls 1 and 2, downwardly and inwardly sloping metal side wall sections 3 and 4, and an elastomeric bottom wall section 5 of a material having. a rubber-like properties of flexibility and resilience as well as having a high degree of abrasion resistance. Thus natural or synthetic rubbers, synthetic resinous plastics and similar materials having such properties can be used to fashion the bottom sheet or wall section 5. This wall section is secured to the lower ends of side wall sections 3 and 4 by longitudinally extending metal strips 6 and a series of nut and bolt connections. The rear wall 1 of the trough provides a mounting for one end of a rotary, shaft-carried mixing and conveying auger 7. The front wall 2 had a discharge opening 8 threin and also serves to support a bearing and bearing backup plate for the other end of the shaft 9 of the rotary auger. The rear end of the shaft 9, as shown in detail in FIG. 6, extends through aligned openings in a wear plate 10, the rear wall 1, a gasket structure 11, a gland plate 12 and into one end of a drive bushing 13, the other end of which is coupled to the drive shaft 14 of a rotary hydraulic motor 15. A motor bracket 16 secures the motor in position on the rear wall 1. The other end of shaft 9 is supported by a bearing 17 carried in the end of a support arm or bracket 18 that is flanged and bolt connected to front wall 2.

The shaft 9 carries a combined mixing and conveying blades, screw flights and paddles, that are in accordance with the teaching of prior US Application Ser. No. 708,679 filed Feb. 27, 1968 and entitled Mixing and Conveying Means Embodying Replaceable Shoes or Wear Plates, now US. Pat. No. 3,469,824. The mixing and conveying blades, flights and paddles include a section having axially spaced screw flight sections 19 connected by a longitudinally extending blade 20 that creates an agitating action by imparting a lifting effect on the concrete, a series of axially spaced, circumferentially displaced inclined mixing paddle blades 21, an arcuate blade or blades 22 connected between at least two circumferentially adjacent paddle baldes 21, and spiral flights 23. Replaceable shoes or wear plates 19', 20, 21', 22' and 23 are mounted on the respective flights and blades.

When the rotary motor 15 is in operation and concrete is within or being fed to the hopper, the action of the rotary mixing and conveying auger 7 in combination with the elastomeric bottom wall structure 5 provides a thorough mixing effect on the concrete including a kneading action, and moves the same to the outlet opening 8 of the hopper H for valve-controlled admission to the pump chamber as set forth hereinaftr. It is to be pointed out that the particular hopper arrangement provides a premixing action on the concrete so that the unit as a whole can be used with any concrete truck including those of the rotary type. The mixing action within the hopper just prior to admission to and discharge from the concrete displacement pump precludes the buildup of particles or non-integrally mixed batches.

In the following description of the structure and operation, it should, of course, be understood that the apparatus during transport is normally towed by its nose portion N, and that the discharge valve conduit VC is located at the rearward portion of the frame F. However, during the mixing and feeding operations, for

the purpose of convenience and clarity, the end at which conduit VC is located will be considered the front or forward end, and all such references in the following description will be based upon this latter orientation.

Attention is now drawn to FIGS. 7 and 8, wherein it can be seen that the concrete displacement pump P includes a pump cylinder 24 positioned alongside and partially below the outlet or discharge opening 8 from the hopper. This pump cylinder 24 accommodates a pump piston 25 which is secured to and reciprocated by the piston 26 that is in turn movable within power cylinder 26. The piston 26 is mounted on the rear end of a piston rod 25' that extends rearwardly from pump piston 25. The power cylinder 26 has a smaller diameter than that of pump cylinder 24 and is mounted to the rear face of such pump cylinder and in axial alignment therewith. The operaton of the power cylinder and pump P will be described hereinafter.

The outer open end 24' of pump cylinder 24 and the outlet or discharge opening 8 are closed by the concrete delivery conduit section VC. This conduit section includes a main end shaped portion having a large open rearward end 28 surrounded by a gasket 29 that cooperates with a gasket 30 surrounding the open end 24' of pump cylnder 24. When the delivery conduit section VC is swung about the vertical axis VA defined by the vertically positioned rod 31 carried by vertically spaced horizontal arms 32 welded to the flanged end support 33 for the pump cylinder 24, the pump cylinder and discharge opening are either exposed or associated with the delivery conduit section VC depending on the direction of swinging movement. The main portion 27 of the delivery conduit section VC further includes a shaped wall portion 27' in front of the open end 28 which defines a guide for the gate valve G. The wall portion 27 has an opening 34 therein that is sequentially exposed and closed by the operation of the gate valve G. This shaped conduit portion 27 further includes a laterally extending wall portion 270 and a top portion 271 that are shaped so as to cover and close the discharge opening 8 from the hopper. Cooperating gasket structures 35 and 36 are carried by the end wall 2 of the hopper H and wall portion 270, respectively. The top section 271 fits over a flange 37 protruding from end wall 2 and suitable clamps 38 secure the top section to such flange 37 when in closed position. A fur- 27. Horizontally extending arms 41 are welded to thetop and bottom of flange 40 and, via openings in the end thereof, are journalled on vertical rod 31. The arms 41 fit between arms 32 carried by flanged end support 33. This end support 33 has four pin means 42 extending outwardly therefrom that fit respectively within four openings 43 on flange 40. The lower pair of such openings 43 have associated therewith turnable handoperated clamp socket means 44 that cooperate with the lower pin means 42 in the securing of delivery section VC to the end of hopper H and the end of the concrete displacement pump.

As indicated previously, the gate valve G turns about an axis that is inclined with respect to the pump axis. As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, this gate valve includes a valve plate 45 that is rounded in plan and cylindrical in section. This plate has a robust ear 46 extending from the concave face thereof and which ear in turn is secured to a shaft 47. This shaft is key-connected to an arm 48, the free end of which is pivotally connected to the piston rod 49 of a power piston-cylinder arrangement 50. Reciprocation of the piston rod thus effects oscillation of the gate valve between a first position, shown in dotted lines in FIG. 7, which closes the outlet passage through conduit section VC and opens communication between the hopper outlet 8 and the pump cylinder 24 via opening 34 so that upon rearward movement of the pump piston 25 concrete is drawn into the pump cylinder or chamber, and a second position, shown in solid lines, which closes opening 34 and exposes the outlet passage through conduit section VC so that forward movement of the pump piston 25 expels concrete through the delivery conduit section VC. Sequential operation of the gate valve G and pump piston effects feeding of concrete to a remote point of utilization via a delivery hose or conduit secured to the end of the delivery section VC.

The gate valve plate 45 is bevelled on both sides over half its circumference as at 450 and 451 (FIG. 13) and bevelled on its inside as at 452 over the other half of its circumference. The robust ear 46 is double bevelled as at 461 so that it in effect presents a knife edge. The double bevelled portions 450 and 451 of the valve plate 45 are on that half of such plate that moves toward the inner wall of delivery section VC while the single bevelled edge 452 is on that half of the valve plate that moves across opening 34. This bevelled relationship facilitates movement of the valve plate through the concrete and prevents stones or other large particles from blocking valve movement because the same are thereby either deflected or broken. The double bevelled arrangement on the ear 46 facilitates movement of such car through the concrete.

As seen in FIGS. through 12, the power-piston cylinder arrangement 50 is mounted on arm means 51 that extend from the rear of flange 40 and are braced by strut means 52 extending from that side of delivery section VC opposite the hopper outlet. In addition the arm means 51 also support one of the control valves for the fluid circuit.

The concrete delivery section VC is of tapered configuration except in the shaped section 27', and the outermost section 272 is supported for swinging movement about a horizontal pivot axis as HA to permit this section 272 to be swung upwardly during transit of the pump carrying trailer.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 17, the operation of the power cylinder PC and thus pump P and the power cylinder 50 for gate valve G is effected through a fluid circuit including a flow control valve PC, a flow selector FCR for remote control, a flow selector FCB for bypass, a valve A controlling flow to opposite ends of power cylinder PC and auger motor and a valve B controlling flow to opposite ends of power pistoncylinder arrangement 50 for gate valve G. The complete fluid circuit will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

One inventive aspect of this arrangement resides in the manner in which the valves A and B are actuated. To effect their actuation, a first axially movable control rod 53 is mounted to extend from the rear face of pump piston 25, to which it is secured, pass through a packing gland 241 in the rear wall of pump cylinder 24 and be guided for reciprocation by guide means 261 carried by the periphery of power cylinder 26'. Extending laterally of control rod 53 and secured thereto adjacent its rearward end is an abutment member 54 that cooperates with longitudinally spaced abutment means 55 on another axially movable control rod 56 mounted alongside the power cylinder and pump cylinder, to shift rod 56 to move valve B which governs the actuation of the gate valve G, via fluid flow to and from the opposite ends of power cylinder 50 to shift its associated piston. The shifting of piston rod 49 within power cylinder 50 effects the swinging movement of arm 48 connected to the shaft 47 carrying the gate valve G. The arm 48 carries an aubtment 57 which cooperates with longitudinally spaced stops 58 on another longitudinally shiftable control rod 59, the movement of which operates the valve A which governs fluid flow to opposite ends of power cylinder PC and also to the rotary motor 15 for the mixing and conveying auger 7.

As shown in FIG. 15, the control rod 56 is connected to automatically actuate the plunger of valve B via a bracket structure 60 carried thereon and having a V- entrance slot 61 therein. A handle I-IB has an angularly offset end portion 62 that is pivotally connected to the plunger of valve B. This handle also has laterally extending pin means 63 that are adapted to fit within the slot 61 in the position shown in FIG. 15. On the body 64 of valve B is a bifurcated fitting 65 having a pair of aligned cotter pin receiving apertures 66 therein. A cotter pin 67 is carried by a chain fastened to the valve body 64. The handle HB also has therein a cotter pin receiving aperture 66 which is located so as to be aligned with the apertures 66 in the bifurcated fitting 65, when the handle HE is pivoted to be received within such bifurcated fitting. Thus longitudinal movement of control rod 56 moves the bracket structure 60 therewith and with pin means 63 in the V-slot 61 transmitting movement to the valve plunger via the lower offset end portion 62 of handle HB. To convert the valve B to manual operation, the handle HE is pivoted upwardly and to the right, into engagement with the bifurcated fitting 65, whereby the aperture 66 in the handle will be aligned with the apertures 66 in the bifurcated fitting. The cotter pin 67 is then inserted through the thus aligned receiving apertures 66, and such cotter pin will then serve as a fixed pivot means for the handle HB relative to the stationary bifurcated fitting 65. In this manner, movement of handle HB to the right will withdraw the valve plunger from valve B, and movement of the handle to the left will correspondingly force the valve plunger into the body of the valve. If it is desired to convert back to automatic operation of valve B, it is merely necessary to remove the cotter pin 67 from the apertures 66 and return the handle HB to the position illustrated, wherein the pin means 63 are again in operative engagement with the slot 61 of the bracket structure 60.

in a manner generally similar to that described above, andas best seen in FIG. 16, the control rod 59 for a valve A carries a depending metal strip 68, the lower end of which carries a cradle 69 having slots 690 therein that receive laterally extending pin means 691 on a portion of handle HA to cause the same to shift the plunger of valve A. The body 70 of valve A carries a chain 71 which in turn carries a cotter pin 72, that fits within apertures 73 on a bifurcated member 74, carried by valve body 70, and on the handle HA. When the cotter pin 72 is within the aligned apertures 73, valve A can be actuated manually by moving handle HA in similar fasion as described with reference to the manual operation of handle HB. With this cotter pin removed, and the handle HA returned to its illustrated position, valve A is actuated automatically in response to the shifting of rod 59 caused by swinging of arm 48, carrying abutment 57 cooperating with stops 58 on rod 59, that moves gate valve G.

Thus, in both instances, in automatic operation, a portion of the two handles HB and HA transmits movement to the respective valve plungers.

In general, in ultilization of the concrete handling arrangement of this invention, the trailer is towed to the particular construction project where it is to be used.

A suitable delivery hose or conduit is connected to the outer end of outermost section 272 of concrete delivery section VC. This hose or conduit is then led to the forms where the concrete is to be placed. A slurry made of cement and water is discharged into the hose or conduit before pumping concrete so as to prevent the hose or conduit from absorbing the cement in the concrete. The concrete mixer then feeds concrete into hopper H with the fluid circuit placed in operation to position gate valve G to close outlet through delivery section VC and pump piston 25 positioned at the outer or forward end of the pump cylinder. The movement of the gate valve to this position causes arm 48 to swing abutment 57 to engage the rearward stop 58 on the short control rod 59 to shift the latter, causing the valve A to move to permit fluid to flow into the inner end of power cylinder 26, thus retracting the power piston 26 and in turn withdrawing pump piston 25. At the same time, fluid is flowing through rotary hydraulic motor to cause the mixing and conveying auger to rotate. Concrete is thus delivered into the pump cylinder under the action of the mixing and conveying auger 7, pushing or conveying same, and the piston 25 also creates a partial vacuum in the forward position of its cylinder as it moves reawardly.

The movement of the pump and power pistons rearwardly also moves control rod 53 rearwardly until the pistons reach the end of their stroke. Just prior to this the abutment member 54 strikes the rearward abutment means 55 on control rod 56 which moves longitudinally sufficiently to cause the plunger of valve B to shift. Fluid then flows under control of valve B into the rearward end of power cylinder 50 to cause its power piston to swing arm 48 and thus gate valve G to a postion that closes communication between hopper H and pump cylinder 24 and opens communication from the pump cylinder through delivery conduit section VC. This swinging movement of arm 48 moves abutment 57 to contact the forward stop 58 to shift control rod 59 to cause movement of the plunger of valve A to cause fluid to flow into the outer or rearward end of power cylinder PC to cause power piston 26 to reverse its movement and to flow to stop hydraulic motor 15. The reverse movement of power piston 26 moves pump piston 25 forwardly to eject a charge of concrete through delivery conduit section VC into the hose leading to a construction form. The forward movement of pump piston 25 also moves control rod 53 forwardly to a position to engage the associated abutment member 54 with the other or forward stop 55 on control rod 56 which moves sufficiently to reverse the plunger of valve B so that fluid can flow into the other or forward end of power cylinder 50 to reverse its associated piston to effect opposite movement of gate valve G to a position to again close communication through delivery conduit section VC and open communication between the hopper H and the pump cylinder. When the arm 48 reaches the end of its swinging movement, it has again caused the abutment 57 to contact the rearward stop 58 to shift control 59 in the opposite direction to move the plunger of valve A to cause fluid to again flow into the inner end of power cylinder PC to commence retraction of the power and pump pistons and also to cause fluid to flow to rotary hydraulic motor 15 to again rotate the mixing and conveying auger 7. It is to be understood that concrete is being fed into hopper H at a rate commensurate with the feeding action of the pump cylinder. The sequential operation of valves A and B through reciprocation of the control rods 58 and 56, therefore, by reason of the repeated movements of arm 48 and control rod 53, efiects a cyclical pumping of concrete through delivery conduit section VC until it is desired to cease such pumping action.

FIG. 17 illustrates schematically the fluid circuitry for the operation of the various components of the concrete pump of the above-described embodiment of invention. The pump X driven by the engine E through a drive coupling Q draws the actuating hydraulic fluid (oil or the like) from tank T through filter C and discharges the fluid through line to remote control relief valve D and on through via line section 81 to pressure relief valve PR, through this latter valve and via line section 82 to valve FCB which is termed the main control valve. Flow line section 84 leads from relief valve PR to line section 85 for delivering excess pressure fluid back to the tank, valve PR being set for a predetermined maximum desired pressure in the system. Main control valve FCB in one position can direct flow back to the tank via line sections 86 and 85 and in another position to valve B, via line section 87. Further line section 88 leads pressurized fluid from line section 82 to valve FCR, termed the remote control valve. When this valve FCR is opened while valve FCB is positioned to feed pressurized fluid to valve B, the pressure in line section 87 will be relieved, fluid will be diverted from valve FCR via line sections 89 and 85 back to the tank. In this open position of valve FCR, fluid will also be fed, via line section 90 to the remote control relief valve D, thus reversing this valve and permitting direct flow of fluid from line section 80 through such valve D, and line sections 83 and 85, back to the tank' T.

With the valve FCR closed to valve PCB and valve FCB positioned to release the fluid to valve B via line section 87, valve B controls the flow to line sections 91 and 92 for the approach and return strokes of the small cylinder 50 and also supplies fluid to the large cylinder control valve A constantly via line section 93. Note that the small cylinder 50 controls the clamshell or gate valve G. The large cylinder control valve A directs the fluid via line sections 94, 95 and 96 to the hydraulic motor 15, on through via line section 97 to the flow control valve FC, and both the flow from the motor 15 and valve FC pass via line sections 98 and 99 to actuate the return stroke of the main cylinder PC. Valve A also controls the discharge stroke of the main or power cylinder PC via line section 100. The check valve CP prevents the oil from line 94 going via line 99 directly to the main cylinder PC, therefore, it must pass through the motor 15, line section 103 to line section 99 and through line section 97, flow control valve FC and line section 98 to line section 99 to the cylinder PC.

It should be appreciated that the remote control valve FCR and main control valve FCB each serve to selectively direct the flow of fluid through line sections 87 et seq. to the operative portions of the apparatus, or back to the tank T, each thus serving as an independent on-off control for the apparatus, and advantageously these two valves may be activated to perform such onoff control functions from two physically spaced locations on and relative to the apparatus, for the convenience of the operator. For example, the main control valve FCB may advantageously be operated and controlled by any suitable means from the main control panel on the pump itself, while the remote control valve FCR may advantageously be controlled through suitable electrical circuitry from a remote source, as for example by signals to a solenoid associated therewith,

an ideal location for such remote source being adjacent the discharge end of the delivery hose or conduit connected to the apparatus in use.

The work cycle controlled by the mechanical linkage is as follows:

The work cycle will pick up wherever it stops. For instance, if the system is shut down midway between the closing of the gate valve G from the position of closing off the intake hopper and closing the discharge opening and it was at the point of closing of the discharge opening when the system is started up again, the clamshell valve G will proceed to close the discharge opening and via control rod 59 actuate the large cylinder valve A. As has been mentioned above, valve B is constructed so as to permit fluid flow to valve A at all times. When the piston in power cylinder 50 reaches the end of its stroke, control rod 59 actuates valve A to direct its flow on through motor and through the flow control valve PC. This valve FC controls the speed of the motor 15 by allowing a portion of the flow to pass through it on to the main cylinder PC. Note the flow from motor 15 also passes on to the cylinder PC.

At the end of the concrete cylinder return stroke, during which time the partial suction generated by such return stroke and the mixing and conveying auger 7 driven by motor 15 fill the pump chamber or cylinder 24 with material, the control rod 53 fastened to move with the concrete pumping piston 25, actuates the mechanical linkage which throws the valve B over to allow the fluid to be directed to the small cylinder 50 to close the clamshell at the material intake, and open the discharge opening. At the end of the stroke of the piston in small cylinder 50, the abutment 58 on arm 48 for gate valve G, actuates the control rod 59 for valve A and it directs the fluid to the discharge of approach stroke of cylinder PC. Meanwhile fluid at the return stroke portion of cylinder PC is returned to the tank T through line section 99, check valve CP, line section 94, through large cylinder valve A and line section 101. Line section 102 provides communication between valve B and the tank T via line section 101.

The entire cycle of the concrete pump may be stopped by any one of the following means:

1. Stop the engine.

2. Set the remote control valve FCR to discharge to the remote control relief valve D which in turn kills the line pressure and stops all operations.

3. Set the main control valve FCB to return fluid to the tank, thus killing the line pressure in the same manner as above.

The main control valve FCB is to be set to bypass fluid to tank T when the engine E is started. This allows the engine to start under minimum load. When the engine is idling, valve FCB is positioned to discharge fluid to control valve B. To keep the concrete pump from operating until ready, the valve FCR is actuated to relieve pressure, as described previously.

The automatic controls may be disengaged at any time and the same cycle can be controlled manually via handles HA and HB acting on the respective valves A and B.

The flow of water from water tank WT to the cylinder 24 of the concretewpump is controlled by means known in the art in that the advance stroke of the pump piston 25 draws the water into the cylinder behind this piston and the return stroke expels the water out of the cylinder into a suitable pump or tank, not shown. The water tank is a surge tank and the water flows both ways through a large opening with unrestricted flow. Thus the concrete pump is water lubricated.

Referring now to FIGS. 18-23, there is shown and will be described a modified embodiment of the concrete handling arrangement according to the present invention, substantially identical with that which has been discussed up to this point, with the exception of the particular structure of the feeding and mixing hopper, the gate valve for controlling entry of the concrete from the hopper into the concrete pump and from the pump through the discharge conduit, and the valve control linkage for coordinating operation of such gate valve and the various operating pistons.

Referring initially to FIGS. 18, 19 and 22, this modified embodiment includes a hopper H, generally similar to the hopper previously described, having its longitudinal axis disposed transversely to the longitudinal axis of the frame, not shown, rather than generally parallel to such frame axis, as previously described. The hopper H includes opposite rigid end walls 1 and 2, respectively disposed at opposite sides of the apparatus frame, I

frame, and an elastomeric bottom wall section 5 of 'a material having rubber-like properties of flexibility and resilience, as previously described with reference to this bottom wall section. Disposed within the hopper H is a rotary, shaft-carried mixing and conveying auger 7 which is substantially identical with that previously described, and which is rotatably driven by a hydraulic motor 15 secured to one end thereof. The hopper H is secured to and supported above the delivery conduit section VC by suitable support means such as a first generally vertical support bracket member 104 secured to the side wall member 3, and by a pair of inclined bracket members 105 respectively connecting the lower ends of end wall members 1 and 2 to the delivery conduit section VC.

The hopper H includes a discharge opening 106 in the lower portion thereof, through which the pre-mixed concrete is discharged into a gate hopper GH, and then into the delivery conduit section VC and to the dis placement pump, under the control of the modified gate valve G, to be described in greater details hereunder. As illustrated, the gate hopper GH includes and is defined by a generally vertical rear wall member 107, an inclined front wall member 108, and a pair of generally triangular side wall members 109. The gate hopper GH includes, in its inclined front wall member 108, an inlet opening aligned with the hopper discharge opening 106, and the gate hopper GH is further open at its bottom to the interior of the delivery conduit section VC. The gate hopper GH may be secured with the hopper H by any suitable means, such as circumferential flange member 110. As will be described more fully at a later point, the gate valve means G is reciprocable in an inclined direction parallel to and generally in sliding contact with the inclined surface of the front wall member 108, and operates to selectively open the hopper H to the gate hopper GH and to the displacement pump P, while closing off the delivery conduit section VC from the displacement pump P, or to close ofi the hop- 

1. A concrete handling arrangement including means defining a concrete receiving-mixing zone for receiving premixed concrete, said means including a hopper having an outlet, a flexible bottom for said hopper and a rotary mixing and conveying auger means within the hopper for imparting a mixing effect on the concrete including a kneading action, a fluid operated concrete displacement pump having a combined inlet and discharge end adjacent said hopper outlet, a concrete discharge conduit means, and a single fluid operated valve means permitting flow of concrete from said hopper outlet to the inlet end of said displacement pump and closing said discharge conduit means in one position and permitting ejection of concrete from said displacement pump to and through said discharge conduit means while closing flow from said hopper outlet in another position, said displacement pump being a reciprocating pump including a pump chamber positioned alongside and at least partially below said hopper and said single fluid operated valve means including a pivotally mounted gate valve mounted for swinging movement about an axis that is inclined with respect to the axis of said pump and a fluid motor for swinging said gate valve, said concrete dischargE conduit means including a portion shaped to guide concrete to flow from said hopper outlet toward said combined inlet and discharge end of said displacement pump, a delivery portion extending beyond said shaped portion and said gate valve and fluid motor being carried by said concrete discharge conduit means.
 2. A concrete handling arrangement as claimed in claim 1 in which said concrete displacement pump includes a pump piston reciprocable in said pump chamber, a fluid operated power cylinder and piston means or said pump piston mounted in axial alignment therewith, a source of fluid under pressure, a control valve means for controlling fluid flow from said source to said power cylinder and piston means to effect reciprocation of said pump piston, a control valve means for controlling fluid flow from said source to the fluid motor for said gate valve and means for mechanically actuating said respective control valves in accordance with the positions of said gate valve and pump pistons respectively.
 3. A concrete handling arrangement as claimed in claim 1 in which said concrete displacement pump includes a pump piston reciprocable in said pump chamber, a fluid operated power cylinder and piston means for said pump piston mounted in axial alignment therewith, a source of fluid under pressure, a control valve means for controlling fluid flow from said source to said power cylinder and piston means to effect reciprocation of said pump piston, a control valve means for controlling fluid flow from said source to the fluid motor for said gate valve, and mechanical means for selectively manually or automatically actuating said respective control valve means.
 4. A concrete handling arrangement as claimed in claim 3 in which said mechanical means includes axially shiftable control rod means for each control valve, a handle means for each control valve and means for releaseably coupling said handle means to said control rod means.
 5. A fluid operated concrete receiving-mixing and displacement arrangement including means defining a pre-mixed concrete receiving-mixing zone, an outlet for said zone, a concrete pump chamber, a pump piston reciprocable therein, a discharge conduit means operably related with said outlet and pump chamber, a single fluid operated gate valve operably related with said discharge conduit means for controlling flow of concrete from the outlet of said zone into said pump chamber and out through said discharge conduit means responsive to reciprocation of said pump piston and in accordance with the position of said gate valve, a double acting power piston-cylinder unit for moving said gate valve, a double acting power piston-cylinder unit axially aligned with said pump chamber for reciprocating said pump piston, a valve controlled fluid pressure system including a control valve for each double acting power piston-cylinder unit, and movable means mechanically controlling said control valves to permit selected automatic or manual actuation thereof, the means mechanically controlling the control valves including guide means carried by the cylinder of said second mentioned double-acting power piston-cylinder unit, a first axially movable rod means carried by said pump piston and guided by said guide means, a second axially movable rod means, mechanical linkage means operably related between said second rod means for effecting axial movement of the second rod means in response to axial movement of the first rod means to actuate said one control valve via said mechanical linkage means, a third axially movable rod means, further mechanical linkage means operably related between said third rod means and the other control valve for actuating the same, further means operably related between said gate valve and said third rod means for effecting axial movement of the third rod means in response to movement of said gate valve to actuate the other control valve via said further mechanical linkage means, whereby coordinated reciprocation of the pump piston and moveMent of the gate valve effect flow of concrete from the outlet of the receiving-mixing zone into the pump chamber with the discharge conduit means closed and subsequent ejection of concrete from the pump chamber through said discharge conduit means with the gate valve closing the outlet of the receiving-mixing zone.
 6. A fluid operated concrete receiving-mixing and displacement arrangement as claimed in claim 5, each mechanical linkage means including a pivotally mounted handle and means releaseably connecting each handle to its associated axially movable rod means.
 7. A fluid operated concrete receiving-mixing and displacement arrangement as claimed in claim 6 in which said last mentioned means comprises pin means on each handle and means having a V-entry pin means accommodating slot carried by the respectively associated axially movable rod means.
 8. A concrete handling arrangement including a receiving-mixing trough having downwardly and inwardly sloping walls, a rotary shaft carried mixing-conveying structure therein, a resilient bottom section for said trough for cooperation with said structure to impart a kneading action to concrete in the trough, said trough having an outlet at one end thereof, a concrete pump means alongside and partly below one side wall of said trough, a delivery conduit means extending from said pump, said conduit means having a lateral opening therein, a shaped wall structure extending from said opening to said outlet, and a swingable concrete flow controlling gate valve positioned within said conduit means for movement about an axis inclined to the axis of said pump for cooperation with said opening and conduit means to permit concrete to flow from said hopper to said pump while said conduit means is closed and to permit concrete to be discharged from said pump through the conduit means while said lateral opening is closed, said gate valve including a valve plate and a shaft-accommodating ear extending from said plate and said plate and ear having bevelled surfaces to facilitate cleavage through the concrete and prevent jamming of the gate valve.
 9. A concrete handling arrangement including a receiving-mixing trough having an outlet at one end, a fluid operated concrete delivery pump positioned alongside and partly below said trough and having an open end laterally adjacent said outlet, a concrete delivery conduit means having an opening communicating with said open end and a lateral opening in communication with said outlet, a fluid operated swingable gate valve means positioned within said conduit means for swinging movement about an axis inclined to the axis of said pump for closing and opening said lateral opening and said conduit means downstream of said lateral opening and said gate valve means having bevelled surfaces operable to cleave through concrete and prevent jamming of said gate valve means.
 10. A concrete handling arrangement including means defining a concrete receiving-mixing zone for receiving pre-mixed concrete, said means including a hopper having an outlet, a flexible bottom for said hopper and a rotary mixing and conveying auger means within the hopper for imparting a mixing effect on the concrete including a kneading action, a fluid operated concrete displacement pump having a combined inlet and discharge end adjacent said hopper outlet, a concrete discharge conduit means, and a single fluid operated valve means permitting flow of concrete from said hopper outlet to the inlet end of said displacement pump and closing said discharge conduit means in one position and permitting ejection of concrete from said displacement pump to and through said discharge conduit means while closing flow from said hopper outlet in another position, said displacement pump being a reciprocating pump including a pump chamber positioned at least partially below said hopper, and said single fluid operated valve means including a linearly reciprocable gate valve member movable between a lower position defining said one posiTion and an upper position defining said another position, and fluid piston means for effecting linear movement of said gate valve member, and further comprising means for dumping fluid pressure from said fluid piston means when said gate valve member approaches said lower position, to thereby prevent said gate member from jamming in said lower position.
 11. A concrete handling arrangement as defined in claim 10, further comprising a substantially closed gate hopper disposed between said hopper and said pump chamber, said gate hopper being open at its bottom to said pump chamber and having an inclined front wall, said front wall having an inlet opening therein communicating with said hopper outlet, and said gate valve member being mounted for inclined reciprocating movement parallel to and in sliding contact with the exterior of said front wall to close off said inlet opening from said hopper outlet in said upper position.
 12. A concrete handling arrangement as defined in claim 11, wherein said hopper has its longitudinal axis defined by said rotary mixing and conveying auger means disposed transversely to the axis of said displacement pump.
 13. A concrete handling arrangement as claimed in claim 10, wherein said last-name means comprises a control rod mounted for reciprocating movement with said gate valve, a pressure dump valve connected into a fluid supply line for said fluid piston means, and a camming portion carried by said control rod at the lower end thereof, and adapted to engage said pressure dump valve when said control rod and said gate valve member reach their lowermost positions, to thereby divert pressure from said fluid supply line to said fluid piston means. 